Page 14 - Tropic Magazine Issue 19

TROPIC • UP FRONT
A DAY IN THE LIFE
Delve into the daily habits and happenings in the life of a local
Catherine Ross
Director
Cairns Family Law Group
Catherine calls it “beautiful
chaos” – her daily juggle as
a wife, mother of three, a
lawyer and a co-director of
Cairns Family Law Group with
Amalie Grima.
14 • Tropic • Issue 19
6.45am Alarm goes off and I roll out of is why we have outsourced as much of
bed – rustle children to start getting our admin work where possible. During
ready for the mad dash to school and the afternoons we usually have a Spotify
work. None of us are morning people! playlist going in the office. We often duck
Shower, dress, shove some food in out to grab a sugar hit (or Kombucha
children’s mouths; order school lunch on when we are being healthy!)
the App.
3pm I head out to pick up my 12-year-old
7.45am Pile into car to sit in traffic from daughter from school. On Mondays and
the beaches to the CBD. Drop off my Tuesday’s, she comes back to the office
12-year-old daughter to Saint Monica’s to do her homework. She likes to help us
and then my 4-year-old son to childcare out with jobs like doing the shredding and
in town. Text 22-year-old son to check he scanning to make some pocket money.
is still alive. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I drop
her to dancing after school.
8:30am Arrive at our office on Sheridan 5:30 – 6:00pm Time to leave the office
St and take a deep breath. Amalie and I
have a morning ritual, starting our day and start the Mum shift. I am always in
with a walk over to Silk Caffe to grab a a rush to pick up my 4-year-old from
coffee. I order my decaf latte and pretend childcare at 6pm.
it will wake me up. We then compile our
“daily must do’s”, each of us setting one 6ish Home time and the chaos well
or two tasks that must be achieved and truly sets in! I’m not one of those
that day. inspirational organised people that preps
meals on the weekend. Weekday family
9am - 11am Work, work, work. The nature dinners usually consist of whatever can
of family law is that I’m never sure what be thrown together from the fridge or
will need to be dealt with each day. take away. Thai is one of our favourites.
Often my clients may call with an urgent I look in the fridge and see what we can
problem that needs solving. A typical throw together. On the days that my
day usually involves meeting with my husband is home from work, he
clients, negotiating with other lawyers usually cooks up a feast true to his
or preparing for a court matter. Some Spanish roots.
days involve going to the Family Court or
to a mediation. Life as a family lawyer is 8.30pm Two nights per week I duck back
never boring! into town to pick up my 12-year-old from
dancing lessons.
11ish Amalie and I normally order brunch
from a local café. Some days we order 9ish Cue Netflix binge! I love to tune
in – making the most of Uber Eats. out from the day’s events. I just finished
On other days we lunch with friends watching Younger and The Bold Type
and colleagues in the Cairns business on Stan. My current favourite is the
community. Our favourites are C’est Handmaid’s Tale on SBS.
Bon or Piccolo Cucina. If I’m not out and
about for lunch, I will usually go for a 11ish Off to sleep to do it all again
short walk around the CBD to stretch my tomorrow.
legs and my mind.
P.S. You will notice I don’t exercise. While
12-3pm Back to work, work, work! On top I don’t spend an hour doing weights or
of being lawyers – Amalie and I juggle cardio, I usually clock 12,000 to 15,000
being business owners. I spend an hour steps each day thanks to my busy but
or two in the afternoons keeping on top beautiful chaos that I call life!
of the “business” side of our business.
Our clients take priority however, which MORE: cairnsfamilylawgroup.com.au